Dear readers, don't think that this my euphoric imagination. In fact, many people are now-a-days delivering lectures, writing articles, and giving prescriptions on TV talk shows to make Bangladesh a "golden Bengal" with the touch of magic wands.

And what are the magic wands? The magic wands are punishing a handful of politicians in special courts, breaking a number of established political parties into pieces, throwing some top leaders out of politics, and forming a new political party, which might be chosen to be the party to take over when the current caretaker government decides not to continue to stay in power.

Would these ad-hoc and populist measures bring about any permanent change in our national characters? You may think so, but I don't believe it. It would be a futile exercise if anybody tries to purify the contaminated water of a pond without stopping the source of contamination.

The entire nation has been contaminated. Corruption is no doubt at the top of the list of the contaminants. But corruption is not a new phenomenon in our country; rather it is an age-old vice. What happened during the past few years is that it has taken shape, like a full-grown banyan tree.

The efforts to bring some of the big fish to book raised a hope in the minds of the people that corruption would say goodbye to our country. But is it possible to eradicate corruption or similar vices from a country which itself encourages policies that is unjust, unequal and biased?

In the media, some of the civil society members, politicians, and professionals are expressing high hopes about stamping out corruption from society through the ongoing drive. But I'm not so optimistic. In fact, in the flawed market economy system, where only the fittest get the license to survive, corruption would be a part of life.

The system makes everything, from basic education to morality, a marketable commodity. We know that market economy is driven by profit. And for profit, a commodity can be sold, resold or transformed.

No doubt, initially the activities of the present interim government earned the people's sympathy and support. People wanted some quick steps in administrative and legal systems that would help establish rule of law. Another big expectation from the government was checking of the price hike of essentials.

But, with the passage of time, our hopes are being shattered as the government has undertaken many tasks except the main ones, which are holding of election as early as possible and controlling the price hike of essentials.

Revered writer N C Choudhury, in his book Atmaghati Bengali, narrated how Bengalis destroy themselves and their own achievements. I think we are not only self-destructive but also self-deceptive.

The 1/11 aftermath caused a ray of hope to arise in the minds of the people. Everyone hoped that rule of law and discipline would return in the national life. At least, there would be no gap between our words and deeds.

The ruling class, who little care about their words and deeds, would take lessons from the new rulers, who have come to power in special circumstances. But alas! Double standard and hypocrisy have become the order of the day. What we are saying, we are not doing. The difference between words and acts is gradually widening in the people's eyes.

When you ban politics, it must be a universal move. But if politics is prohibited for one group and remains open for others, it's double standard. We may give argument in its favour, but can't legitimise it.

We are arresting some politicians for their alleged involvement in corruption, but letting others who committed the same offence remain free, The man who headed a ministry that topped the list of corrupt ministries for consecutive four years has become the most honest person in the country. Many well-known corrupt suspects were also seen roaming around him.

The chief conservator of forests amassed crores of Taka by destroying the country's forest resources. Where were the secretary, JS, DS, and other officials of the Forest Ministry when Osman Gani carried out the crime? What responsibility have they shown as officials of the supervising ministry? Are they clean? Some former ministers were caught, but none of officials of the ministries concerned was implicated, as if the officials of the ministries are angels.

In fact, there must be at least three parties in a corrupt deal. They are bureaucrats, politicians and businesspeople. Bureaucrats and businesspeople initiate the idea, politicians provide the necessary logistic supports (e.g. permission), and bureaucrats plan the implementation process of embezzlement.

It's a chain. When you say, the law is equal for all and two elements of the chain remain untouched, skepticism results. The whole intention, though it might be a good one, becomes questionable.

And questions are in the air, particularly after the arrest of AL president Sheikh Hasina without due process of law (without arrest warrant or court order). The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam has raised some pertinent questions about the misconceived intent of the government.

People are also deeply scrutinising the "partisan behaviour" of the "non-party" government. Who does not know that the immediate-past 4-party government took the country to a new height of corrupt practices? But, of late, it seems that the entire wrath of the government has fallen onto the erstwhile opposition party -- AL.

Just compare the arrest list. The AL president has been arrested, BNP chairperson is still free; AL general secretary is in jail, BNP secretary general is doing politics ignoring ban on politics; at least three presidium members of AL are in jail, none of that stature except Barrister Nazmul Huda of BNP has been arrested.

And if we aggregate the total arrests across the country, the number of AL detainees would surpass the BNP's. Initially people thought that AL leaders were being arrested to make a balance, but now they have started to think that the target of the government is the AL, and the arrest of the BNP leaders was mere eyewash.

I am not defending anyone or extending my support to corrupt people. My expectation is the rooting out of all the vices from the society. And that cannot be achieved through piecemeal measures. We must not take any step that would not work ultimately.

Coercion and intimidation do not work for long, especially in the case of democracy. Rather motivation and proper policy work better.

The caretaker government should not do anything that proves that they are partisans. In the past we have committed many mistakes. But this time, any mistake will take a heavy toll on the national life.

Nazrul Islam is a freelance contributor to The Daily Star.